Residency Program in Primary Care and Population Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates/Atrius Health and Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

At the end of their training, our graduates emerge with outstanding clinical skills, broad-based knowledge of clinical epidemiology, health policy and management, and health services research, as well as distinctive leadership expertise in the care of populations. These skills provide the foundation for many different careers in academic, organizational and clinical leadership.

Alumni Reflections of the Program

The program at BWH/HVMA/DPM has been one of immense support and possibility. I came to Boston from the West Coast with a bit of trepidation, feeling a bit like Dorothy from the wizard of Oz, and concerned that I was blown off course. With the open arms of leadership, the structural mechanisms that allow for a fair amount of resident autonomy, and fellow residents that have a deep desire to relieve suffering caused by human disease, I found a place that would serve as a launching pad for a career in medicine. I am confident that this was the best program for me, and that anyone coming to the program will have a similarly uplifting experience. - Kyle E. Morawski, MD, Class of 2015

One of the most unique and transformational components of the HVMA program is how much flexibility there is built into the program to let you build the kind of expertise that you want. I feel that I got an amazing education and given the trust and freedom to be able to deeply explore and engage in human rights work (my area of interest) in a way that completely shaped how I think of myself as a clinician and physician. In HVMA, your individual voice and interest are truly celebrated as part of the richness that you can bring to the whole group. - Sarah Kimball, MD, Class of 2014

The BWH/DPM/HVMA program provided an incredible opportunity to learn from such talented and humble physicians, teachers and researchers in a supportive and nurturing environment. - Andrea Wershof-Schwartz, MD, MPH, Class of 2014

The HVMA program was a great program to train for my job as a primary care doctor. I learned so much from my preceptor and my fellow residents during our peer teaching sessions. As I am now a preceptor, I find the experience of peer teaching very valuable.- Katherine Day Rose, MD, Class of 2013

The Brigham/HVMA/DPM program was an incredible experience -- I learned so much from my colleagues about how to be a better doctor, a better leader and a better person. It fostered my continued love of clinical primary care while giving me unparalleled exposure and experiences in the realm of innovation, management and leadership. The best moments of my current job (which I love) are when they remind me of my time in the program. - David Gellis, MD, MBA, Class of 2013

Training at BWH/HVMA was an extraordinary privilege, with remarkable training, support, mentorship, and community. One of the opportunities I am most grateful for in my life. Loved it. - Nicholas Stine, MD, Class of 2012

The BWH Residency in Primary Care and Population Medicine was an amazing experience. The culture is one of unconditional support - it feels like a family within the larger residency program. I remain close with my classmates, whom I respect immensely for both their clinical skills and their outstanding integrity and compassion. Bill Taylor is an exceptional mentor who remains a strong supporter even beyond graduation. Simply put, the program is the best! - Sarah Smithson, MD, MPH, Class of 2011

The opportunity to learn from, and work with, such smart, dedicated, and inspiring people has been a privilege. The program encourages independence and creativity in exploring your own interests and supporting you every step of the way. - Sandhya Rao, MD, Class of 2008

It was an absolute privilege to train at HVMA. The experience, exposure, network, friendships, mentorship and freedom to walk the path you're called to walk are unparalleled. I'd happily suffer through Beantown winters if I had to do it again. - Mark Berman, MD, Class of 2007

I am very grateful for all aspects of my training from this residency program. Working side by side with active clinicians in a practice devoted to population management from its beginning has had a great influence on my career. My favorite aspects are the mentorship, the curriculum in health policy and management, and the ability for residents to design various aspects of the curriculum. I came into the program with a dream of working in health care delivery innovation and over the three years, met a number of great people who shared my interests. The projects, mentors, and curriculum of the program helped me find my dream job after graduation. - Namita Seth Mohta, MD, Class of 2006

I have such fond memories of my HVMA/BWH/P-care days. I still read every email the program sends (including the recent one highlighting the BMJ editorial written by Sarah Kimball, Class of 2014). I am so proud of my co-residents; and keep in touch with many. In fact, Jenna Bollyky is working at Stanford too. My clinical focus is on bone diseases (osteoporosis) and female reproductive endocrinology (fertility & menopause); there is a lot of "preventive medicine" and "care of the whole patient" involved... and I am glad to have learned a strong foundation from my p-care days. Here are other things I'm so glad I learned from my HVMA residency days: teamwork with other providers, Epic (I use it now & it's especially helpful for teamwork!), critical reading of the literature ("clinical epi" conference), negotiation skills, competent cultural care, bedside manner, and all the many clinical pearls I learned from my mentors (including Moira Cunningham). Thanks for the good times. - Aimee Shu, MD, Class of 2006

I loved the HVMA Primary Care program!! I had no idea then that I would end up in Geriatrics but looking back it makes perfect sense. The program I am in now is truly highly coordinated primary care with an emphasis on team-based care, care coordination across settings and preventive care. All kernels from HVMA. My deep foundations in primary care and systems was built and nurtured in the HVMA Program. The training in reading journal articles stays with me to this day. I also was introduced to "real-world" ideas and issues that I use regularly, such as Leadership and Management. It was not easy at times to bridge the acute inpatient world with the outpatient but the learning derived from those years was well worth that struggle and makes me a much better doctor today. - Rachel Broudy, Class of 2006

Overall the Brigham Internal Medicine Residency Program is second to none in terms of training, colleagues and attendings. The close knit Primary Care and Population Medicine Residency, however, added an even more special layer for me. The opportunity to get to know 11 other amazing residents across three years in such a close knit, supportive, yet challenging environment supplemented my residency training, allowing me to continue to explore population health and leadership while training at the individual patient level on the wards and in clinic. The leadership of the program engages many and diverse professors from across the system providing both a varied perspective and many opportunities for mentorship. This was absolutely my first choice in programs and I feel privileged to this day to be part of this special group. - Marcy Carty, MD, MPH, Class of 2005

The BWH/HVMA primary care residency was a terrific program. Several important features stand out for me. First, the journal club run by Bill Taylor was a life-altering experience. It changed the way I approach literature and was highly influential in my approach to research in hospice and palliative care. I have been running a palliative care journal club every year since, and use his structure every time, starting with – “What is the question? Is this an important question?” Second, the patient-doctor seminar that run by Jim Sabin allowed us to experience our residency in a deep way, processing our experiences in a way that helped them to enrich us, rather than the usual cynicism and negativity that results from a high pressure residency. Finally, what terrific connections! Your peers and teachers make the program. Steve Pearson recently asked me to join a drug/device review panel in California; we had the (hopefully) future surgeon general of the US! - Alexander Smith, MD, MS, MPH, Class of 2005

This program fundamentally shaped my career today. It not only taught me what it takes to be an excellent primary care physician (a goal to which I still aspire!), but also the organization shaped how I think about quality and safety. I learned the fundamentals of teamwork, care redesign, information technology, patient and provider education, and many other concepts that are core to my current career. I will always remember HVMA as the place where I learned to be a physician leader. - Thomas Sequist, Class of 2002

My three years in residency were (surprisingly!) three of the best years of my life – it was fun and highly stimulating, the learning curve was steep, and I was surrounded by an amazing group of fellow residents and faculty. Over time I have appreciated even more what a special group of people this was – enjoy the journey!- Kevin Volpp, MD, MPH, Class of 2001

My training in this program was incredible. I learned so much from my mentors, faculty teacher, and my peers. It is a rare and special program that I promote when I get the chance.- Elizabeth Jacobs, MD, MPP, Class of 1996

My training and career has taken me through a great number of hospitals, but my experience in the HVMA/HPHC program has had the largest effect on the way that I continue to practice medicine and to think about primary medical care. - Christopher Crenner, MD PhD, Class of 1996

I was in the very first class of this unique residency program and I believe it was, and still is, the finest primary care program in the nation. Its spirit of innovation, connection to the heart of primary care medicine, and ability to breed leadership at the intersection of medicine, population-based care, ethics, and health care policy, are unmatched. - Steven Pearson, MD, MSC, Class of 1990

BWH/HVMA/DPM ALUMNI LIST AND CURRENT POSITIONS

Class of 2015

Kyle E. Morawski, MD

Fellow, Center for Healthcare Delivery SciencesDepartment of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School

HospitalistDepartment of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterInstructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical SchoolFaculty, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences

David Gellis, MD, MBA

Lead ProviderIora Health / Collective Primary Care, Brooklyn, NY

Daniel Horn, MD

Associate Medical Director for Central Population ManagementMGH Primary CareClinical Innovation FellowMassachusetts General Physician’s Organization and the MGH Division of General MedicineInstructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency ProgramDirector of Humanism in Medicine CurriculumAssistant Professor of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthInternal Medicine PhysicianUniversity of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Mary Thorndike, MD

HospitalistBrigham and Women’s HospitalInstructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

PresidentMGH Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, Boston, MALecturer, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School Visiting Scientist, Department of Bioethics, National Institutes of Health

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This page was last modified on 1/28/2016